Bad Bunny dancer says backlash to viral Super Bowl grinding is ‘absolutely ridiculous’
A split-second camera shot showed Santiago and fellow dancer Igor Faria grinding together on top of a truck as part of the choreography
By Callum Wells
Super Bowl Halftime Show dancer Dan Santiago has responded to criticism following a viral moment from Bad Bunny’s set on Sunday (8 February) at California’s Levi’s Stadium.
The performance saw the Puerto Rican star headline a 13-minute set that featured surprise appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. It marked the first time a Latino solo artist led the Super Bowl Halftime Show, performing largely in Spanish.
During the broadcast, a split-second camera shot showed Santiago and fellow dancer Igor Faria – who are both straight – grinding together on top of a truck as part of the choreography. The moment circulated widely online after the game.
Republican representative Andy Ogles claimed Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance “openly glorified sodomy”
Republican representative Andy Ogles called for an investigation, alleging the show included “explicit displays of gay sexual acts.” In a formal demand to the Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee, Ogles asked regulators to examine the NFL and broadcaster NBC. He wrote that the performance “openly glorified sodomy and countless other speakable depravities”.
“It is highly implausible that the NFL and NBCUniversal lacked advance knowledge of the performance’s content,” Ogles added. “The failure to utilize these safeguards raises serious questions regarding whether adequate standards and practices review occurred and whether reasonable steps were taken to prevent explicit material from being broadcast to a nationwide family audience.”
“Men will do anything to protect masculinity at all costs” – Dan Santiago responding to criticism
Speaking to Them, Santiago rejected the backlash as “absolutely ridiculous.” He said: “Men will do anything to protect masculinity at all costs.” The dancer, who has been performing for about eight years, also addressed the focus on that specific moment. “I find it really sad because the performance is also bigger than that one moment, although it is really important. I think the fact that they’re hyperfixating on that moment says more about them than it does about the performance.”
“I knew it was gonna blow up,” he said, adding that he felt proud to support the queer community.
A banner shown during the set read: “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love.”
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